#11 ~ Beauty Tag

It has taken me so long to get around to writing this Beauty Tag! Thank you to wonderful Jenny from Small Girl Big Dreams for tagging me! So without further ado, here are my answers:

1. Would you rather lose all of your mascaras, eyeliners and lip product or lose all of your palettes and eye shadows?

Palettes and eye shadows!

2. Would you rather chop off all your hair or never be able to cut it again?

Never be able to cut it again - I am actually trying to grow my hair really long right now.

3. If you had $500, would you spend it on clothes or make up?

Clothes, of course! I would buy a few expensive cosplay/lolita style dresses! <3

4. Would you rather only use one eye-shadow colour or one lip colour for the rest of your life?

One lip colour; I usually one use one light shade of pink. I always change my eye shadow to match my outfit.



5. Bright nails or nude nails all year round?

Definitely bright. I love bright colours, it is a part of my style.

6. Would you rather never be able to use lipgloss or paint your nails again?

Never be able to use lip gloss. I could live with just balm. I love painting my nails too much.

7. Describe your perfect mascara. Have you found one?

I have not, yet. :( As such, I have no idea what my perfect one would be. One that suits lolita-style make-up. So big, kind of thick and separated, like doll's eye lashes.

8. What’s your ideal coverage foundation?

Hmm I have to admit I am not really sure. I like BB/CC creams, but there is yet a favourite...perhaps Garnier's. They are one of my favourite brands.


9. Favourite high-street/drugstore beauty brand?

Barry M and Garnier!

10. Favourite high-end beauty brand?

I do not really have one, but I LOVE Etude House, which is an Asian make-up brand! They are my overall favourite.

11. Is there any makeup you can’t leave the house without wearing?

Only concealer when I have not slept well. >.<

12. What is your most cherished beauty product?

As above, my concealer is one, but I do not actually like the one I have. I cannot wait for it to run out so I can get a new one! Apart from that, maybe my eye cream (which I am also in the same situation with as my concealer haha) or moisturiser!

13. What skin type do you have?

Normal, which I think myself lucky for!

14. Do you always use the same skin routine or do you like switching it up?

I use different products when they run out. I think it is better to switch it up.

15. Top 5 beauty gurus?

Michelle Phan, if she counts. She is the only one I can think of right now.

16. If you could only buy one make up brand forever, which would you buy?

Probably Barry M, depending on the future availability of Etude House (as in if it becomes easier to buy here in the U.K.).

17. which brand has your favourite packaging?

Etude House! The nail polishes I have by them are miniature ice cream cones. Everything is so cute and brightly coloured!

18. which do you apply first, concealer or foundation?

Foundation then concealer.

19. Name a make up crime you hate.

Well, the tan gone so far it actually looks orange or when the face is clearly a different shade to the neck/rest of the body!

20. Blush or bronzer?
Blush - I never use bronzer.

Lipgloss or lipstick? - Lip gloss.
Foundaion or concealer? - Concealer.
Brushes or sponges? - Sponges.
OPI or Essie? - Neither.
Lotion or body butter? - Body butter.

And now I am going to tag...

Josie - Fashion Mumblr
Sophie - Sophie's Plus Size Wonderland
Ellis - Ellis Tuesday
Carla - Fashion&Pages

Thank you again to Jenny from Small Girl Big Dreams for tagging me! I really enjoyed writing this post. Until next time~

Love, Miss Emma-Lily xx

#10 ~ First Liebster Award

A big thank you to the lovely Hannah from Wink Beauty for nominating me for my very first Liebster Award! I feel like I should write some kind of acceptance speech or something hehe~

For those who don't know: The Liebster Award is given by bloggers to bloggers who are new to the blogging world to welcome them and give their blog awareness! Now, onto the questions Hannah has asked me and my answers:

1. What is your favourite social media site?

It has to be twitter - it is so simple and easy to use. It used to be facebook, but for me that has kind of died now and the only reason I am keeping my account is just to occasionally keep in touch with faraway family and friends who do the same.

2. What is your favourite movie character?

Hermione from Harry Potter and Cinderella. I feel I can relate to both of them. I am a bookworm and never had sisters, but I had a bad childhood which I have finally escaped, plus I have found my Prince Charming. :)

3. Which do you prefer; Family Guy or The Simpsons?

If I had to choose, it would be The Simpsons. I watched it a lot when I was younger and only saw Family Guy for the first time a few years ago...it was all right, but I would still prefer to watch The Simpsons over Family Guy. There are some classic moments that still manage to make me chuckle.

4. Who is your favourite comic book superhero?

Hmm, I have never really read comic books. The books I read are the wrong genre, too!

5. The Big Bang Theory or How I Met Your Mother?

Ooh, definitely The Big Bang Theory! I love it!

6. What is your favourite video game?

As I am not a big video game fan, the games I do play I love and there are not many of! Persona 3 Portable, The Sims 3 and Animal Crossing (the former two I am eagerly awaiting the next games in the series!) are my favourite games.

7. If you could have a dinner party with 5 famous people - dead or alive - who would you pick and why

Katy Perry - love everything about her; her style, music and values.

William Shakespeare - for his writing, obviously! It would be an honour to meet him.

Shoji Meguru - he creates music for the Persona games series and it is so creative!

Tyra Banks - after watching America's Next Top Model, I became a fan of her, for mostly the same reasons as Katy Perry, plus because of how personable and relatable she is.

Michael McIntyre - so he can make me laugh in person. :)

8. Who is your favourite band/singer?

Perfume! They are a Japanese J-Pop band. Check out one of their songs here!

9. What would Amortentia (love potion in Harry Potter) smell like to you (it smells like what you love?

Ooh, the smell of a fresh bakery, new books, or cherry blossoms. <3

10. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Japan! Oh my gosh, I must try not to ramble here because I love everything about Japan. The clothing, anime, technology, shrines, food, make-up, manga, the cat cafés, Japanese bakeries and sweets...

11. What is your favourite pass time?

Probably writing. I love it. I write novels, fan fiction, my blog...I spend most of my time writing. Closely followed by reading though.

Eleven Random Facts About Me

- Because I love the colour green so much I named my puppy green in Japanese - Midori.

- I used to bite my nails.

- Apparently I have a separate stomach for sweets.

- I came second in Nintendo's Mario Kart 7 tournament and won a big Star Cup trophy!

- Make-up is not a daily essential for me. It is rare I leave the house wearing it.

- I am opening a cat café with my partner.

- I am struggling to find four more facts. >_<

- Peanut butter is one of my foodie obsessions.

- Japan is where I belong and would love to live one day.

- I am very much a romantic.

- The longest story I have written is 146 pages and around 98,000 words in Word and is incomplete.

And Now I Nominate Thee...

Kizzy - Nails By Kizzy

Jenny - Small Girl Big Dreams

Coco Ladysmith - The Little Pink Bible

Mali Moss Make Up

Aimée Belle

Jess - Jessiedolly

Sophiia - Beauty By Sophiia

Zara - Page 394

To Answer These Eleven Questions:

1. Do you prefer sweet or savoury?

2. Do your close friends and family know about your blog?

3. Where in the world do you belong?

4. What are your must have beauty brands?

5. Which beauty products could you live without?

6. Are you a cat or dog person?

7. What inspired you to start your blog?

8. Can you describe yourself in eight words?

9. If you had to wear one type of shoe for the rest of your life, which would you choose?

10. Do your feet have to be under the covers at night, even in summer?

11. What is your favourite healthy food?

There we go! I have finally completed the Liebster Award! I realise that some of my nominees have already done this, so if you cannot be bothered to do one again (and I won't blame you), please do not feel obliged. :)

Here are the guidelines:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog (and tell them when you post the Award on your blog so they can see your answers).

2. Answer the 11 questions given to you from your nominator.

3. Write 11 random facts about yourself.

4. Nominate 5 to 11 bloggers with under 1,000 followers.

5. Provide 11 questions for them to answer.

6. List the guidelines so that people have an idea of what to do.

6. Display the Award as a gadget/widget on your blog.

7. Finally, inform the people you nominated with a link to your Liebster Award blog post!

Phew! That was a really long post, but I did enjoy writing it. Again a huge thanks to Hannah from Wink Beauty for nominating me (and sorry I took so long to get around to writing it) and to everyone who reads this. Until next time~

Love, Miss Emma-Lily xx

#9 ~ Eye Creams & Lip Balms

Both of these products are essential to your daily routine because due to our polluted world, our skin dries out quickly and these particular areas dry out the quickest! The skin around your eyes is even the thinnest skin on your face, so it needs extra special care to avoid dark circles and dryness. As for lips, they have to face all of the elements too, plus coming into contact with foods, drinks and passionate kissing! All of these can wear down your delicate lips, potentially leading to dryness and/or cracking.


Firstly, I would like to point out that eye creams are essentially glorified moisturisers, unless they have ingredients proven to help with anti-ageing, dark circles, puffiness etc.. If your eye cream does not target any of these, you can simply use your regular facial moisturiser! Before you dab it on, gently cleanse the eye area first (but make sure your cleanser is gentle enough for using around the eyes). You can generally use eye creams twice a day, especially if you are using one for the anti-ageing benefits. Remember, do not exfoliate the eye area - it will increase discolouration and dark circles!



To keep lips looking smooth and plump, use a lip scrub weekly and a lip balm daily as and when needed to keep them from drying out, even if that may be more than twice a day.

Just like all moisturisers, for both the lips and eyes, use one that matches your skin type and anything that is applied to your face should have very little or no fragrance.

Thanks for reading! Until next time~

Love, Miss Emma-Lily xx

#8 ~ Moisturisers

After cleansing your face (or showering), it is best to apply a pea-sized amount of moisturiser within three minutes to give back what the cleanser may have taken from your skin, plus it helps for a better application of make-up and gives your skin a layer of protection from such things like wrinkles and daily air pollution (which, if you live in a city like me, is vital; no one wants a smoggy face) or the wet and windy English weather; many moisturisers even have SPF in them nowadays, too - usually of factor 15, so during the summer, if the sun decides to poke its head out of course, you will still need extra sunscreen (which you should apply after moisturiser). It is also very important to use a separate moisturiser for the delicate eyes and lip areas!

As with all cosmetics, there are different types depending on what skin you have. To help keep normal and combination skin from becoming excessively oily or dry, lightweight oil or water-based moisturisers do the trick. Creamy, oil-based moisturisers are perfect for dry skin and does wonders to keep the flaky tightness at bay; dry skin is also easily prone to early signs of ageing, so moisturisers can help greatly with that, too! As for oily and acne-prone skin, moisturiser can actually be relevant as well. You would not really imagine that applying one could help - but since it is common for people with these skin types to use harsh cleansing products on their face to control the oil and acne, a water-based moisturiser that contains no oil can help balance the skin and produce less oil over time. For those with sensitive skin, a good moisturiser containing aloe or chamomile will soothe it; make sure to avoid ones with fragrances, dyes or irritant acids.

You may have heard of or use day and night creams. They are purely a personal preference and I have never used them myself. It sounds like they might take some getting used to...I mean, would your face not stick to your pillow?

These days you can find moisturisers for daily all-in-one use. However, day creams are usually lighter than night creams, contain SPF and focus on re-hydrating your face whilst protecting your skin from everyday exposure to UV rays and pollution. Night creams, on the other hand, are made to work with your skin overnight as your body heals and repairs damage; night creams aid the process and can contain ingredients for anti-ageing and keeping your skin generally healthy. Although there are moisturisers for every skin type, oily skin does not really need a night cream and is normally fine with just an all-in-one day cream.

Thank you so much for reading! Until next time~

Love, Miss Emma-Lily xx

#7 ~ Toners

In Korea, where beauty is Queen, women use about 14 beauty products a day. Today, however, toner is not one of them. Toners have been used in daily skin routines for as long as time (well maybe not quite that long) and were originally invented to remove the residue of cleansers as well as to restore the skin's natural pH balance if you use a bar of soap as your cleanser (this post explains why you should not use bars as your cleanser) - nowadays cleansers are water-based, do not change the pH balance of your skin and do not leave a residue behind - but toners still claim to thoroughly cleanse and tighten/shrink pores. There is little need for them with the vast array of good cleansers, exfoliators and facial masks on the market and these are made well enough that your skin has no need for four cleansers (hence why there are barely any in shops anymore)!



Some people use toners because they believe the hype about them tightening and shrinking your pores and in a way, they do just that, but this is in fact due to the toner drying out your skin, which will make your pores look smaller and give you that tingly, taut, 'toned' feeling. A moisturiser can shrink your pores too by swelling the tissue around them, making them appear smaller; this is a much better alternative to toner, plus the chances are you already moisturise your face as a part of your daily skin routine, so there is nothing to lose (apart from money if you do buy toner!). You should also need to use less moisturiser if you skip the toner because you are not stripping down your skin, leaving your natural oils to do their job.

The oiliest or acne-prone skin could benefit from a toner if it is not already being controlled using another method, so if you really must use one, make sure it is alcohol-free, but all other skin types are better of skipping it.

I hope you found this useful! Until next time~

Love, Miss Emma-Lily xx

References: Is Toner Necessary? - About.com, Unnecessary Cosmetics - oprah.com

#6 ~ Cleansers

There are a lot of cleansers out there - from facial washes to foams, lotions to cleansing waters...and let's face it, they all do the same thing: remove dead skin cells, dirt, make-up and excess oil. You just have to find what works best for your skin.

Before using your cleanser, gently pinch the skin around your eyebrows, just below them, along and above your cheekbones and jawline to flush excess fluids away as well as to get an instant glow. For another added benefit, gently stroke the skin in these spots in outwards motions to keep wrinkles at bay. Remember to wash your hands and moisturise them before starting your routine too! It does not really matter whether you do this before or after pinching your face as you are going to cleanse afterwards.



Cleansing is usually the first step of daily skincare routines (you should not cleanse after exfoliating though, use a facial mask instead - find out more here - unless you exfoliate in the morning and cleanse in the evening) and nowadays eliminates the need for make-up removers, unless you wear stubborn or heavy make-up in which case it is best to use a special type of remover after cleansing, particularly for the eyes. It should not remove your natural moisture, yet should make your skin a little taught; this feeling tells you the cleanser has removed the oils on the surface that collect bacteria and dirt, however if this feeling lasts for more than ten minutes, you should find a milder cleanser as it has probably dried out your skin (this feeling is also heightened when using toner and is why you should not use it).



Do you remember these Hello Kitty soaps from my previous post? Well, this is why, sadly, you should avoid them. Surprisingly, bars of soap actually do more bad than good! They have thickeners in which will clog your pores and can remove natural oils that your skin uses to form a barrier against losing moisture (your skin might then overproduce oil to make up for the loss); both of these can lead to possible breakouts. Your skin's natural pH balance is usually around 4.7, whilst a bar soap's pH is 9 or 10, so you can see how this will increase acne-causing bacteria - yuck!

The best way to use a cleanser is as follows: firstly, before using your cleanser, splash your face with lukewarm water and stick to this temperature regularly (even if using a cleansing water, as the warmth from the tap water helps with more stubborn make-up, plus changing temperatures often can shock the skin) - and if you are like me then a cold shock in the morning is not a pleasant thing so any excuse to use warm water is a saviour. Then dab the cleanser all over your face and use soft swipes in an upwards direction (circular or flat) to wipe it away towards the sides of your face (these actions are said to prevent or delay sagging and wrinkles) in the order you put it on your face, because then the cleanser will have had time to absorb a little bit of the surface dirt, but avoid letting cleansers sink in too much or deliberately as they can actually cleanse less by doing this. Finally, if needed, rinse off with warm water (obviously not needed when using cleansing water).



As you probably know, there are different cleansers for each skin type. Normal skin is best off using cleansing waters, but of course anything can work really. Dry skin should use creamy cleansing lotions, combination or oily skin will thank you for using gel-like facial washes and sensitive skin needs to use special cleansers like waters, foams or something that is really gentle. But no matter what your skin type, avoid facial wipes. The texture of the wipe itself can be quite harsh when you swipe it across your face (so if you must use wipes, avoid using them on and around the eyes) and they usually contain harsher chemicals than bottled cleansers.

And there you go! A guide to cleansing. Thank you for reading; until next time~

Love, Miss Emma-Lily xx

#5 ~ Exfoliators and Facial Masks

Who doesn't love that feeling of super soft skin? Well, thanks to exfoliators and facial masks, we can maintain a healthy look both inside and out. This is why exfoliation is important - over time, as your skin ages, its collagen and elastin production slows down, eventually blocking your pores; this causes signs of ageing. An exfoliator will remove the dirt and dead skin cells an everyday cleanser cannot reach, getting rid of the icky layer and revealing the hidden fresher, younger skin underneath.

Doing this regularly increases blood circulation (from the massaging; this helps relieve tension and maintain elasticity, so every time you exfoliate try giving yourself a facial massage at the same time) and allows your skin's natural oils to shine, giving you that natural glow, but do not exfoliate the eye area! It is far too delicate to experience scrubbing; after all, it is the thinnest skin on your face. Lips should be treated with a separate special scrub, too so that it does not matter if you 'accidentally' ingest some (mmm...sugar!). It is also a good idea to use lip balm after scrubbing your lips; the scrub will get rid of dead skin thus helping you avoid chapped lips, easier application of make-up and allowing the balm to do its job better (just like you would moisturise your face after exfoliating)!



As this is a method of deep cleansing, it helps prevent acne breakouts and keeps your skin lovely and clean; however, it should be done in moderation - you want some skin left on your face, right? Rubbing it down too often will cause dryness and irritations. Also, if you are exfoliating for the first time (or after not doing it for a while), it may cause a little break out - this has happened to me - and is because your pores are being 'opened' by the deep cleanse, so new bacteria can get in which can lead to spots. I only got a few barely noticeable little bumps and once I had been doing it regularly, they disappeared quickly.

Despite what most advice tells us, for normal and combination skin, once a week is good. Dry or sensitive skin will be better off just using creamy facial lotions or washes (they are gentler and better at moisturising) and avoiding beady scrubs, whereas oily skin, depending on how greasy it gets, should be cleansed rather than exfoliated with a cleansing scrub twice a week. Personally, I am lucky to have normal skin and started off exfoliating every three days as my tub of exfoliator said it can be used daily. Even that sounded a little too often and it turned out my gut instinct was right; now I only do it once a week and my skin is back to normal and cotton soft for the rest of the week. A lot of people that recommend you exfoliate more than this are most likely trying to make you spend twice as much money by buying more exfoliators than you need to. It is neither healthy for your face, nor your purse.



After exfoliating, a facial mask is a good idea because it can actually do its job properly by soaking into your 'open' pores. As a great nourishing food for you skin, a mask helps keep skin naturally moist and plump, plus there are many varieties with different ingredients and properties depending on what you want it to do. To feed your skin a proper diet, you should use another type of mask each week and unless you use nourishing ones, you might as well just moisturise instead; there is no need to deeply cleanse and dry out your face twice (however, facial masks can be used instead of exfoliators and if you are using one or the other, you should moisturise afterwards).

With all of this talk about your face, your neck may be feeling rather neglected - and if you do not really fancy a saggy chicken neck or a double chin, you can massage your neck with light, circular outward strokes with or without moisturiser whilst waiting for your mask to set. Hooray for multi-tasking!

I know I definitely learnt something from writing this blog! I hope you did too. Until next time~

Love, Miss Emma-Lily xx

#4 ~ Skin Types and Tips

In order to create your perfect skincare routine, you need to identify your skin type. If you already know yours, skip this part. Otherwise, here is a quick test to help you find out.



When you wake up in the morning (or afternoon), before doing anything to your face, grab a piece of paper (avoid using a tissue if possible as it will be absorbent/not show results very well) and wipe it over the t-zone: the chin, nose and forehead.

• Normal skin won't show any traces of oil or flakes of dead skin, will feel smooth and bouncy as well as having an even tone and medium-sized pores. With it being not too oily and not too dry, it is the least problematic skin type and doesn't break out much (it should not react to any products, either and doesn't change depending on the season or time of day) - think of yourself as one lucky ducky if your skin is like this.
• Dry skin will show dead skin flakes and feel tight; it has small pores and might occasionally be irritated/itchy or sometimes have patches of redness. Fine lines and wrinkles usually develop more quickly and become visible faster than usual  - face masks and moisturiser are key!
• Oily skin will show grease and look shiny on all or most parts of your face due to large pores overproducing oil. It is also prone to acne, but less prone to aging and wrinkling - selecting gels or special oils over creams will help keep it clean.
• Combination skin is like normal skin, but will show only a little oil or dead skin usually from the t-zone and changes depending on the season or weather. It can be prone to spots in the t-zone and is normal/dry on the cheeks. It is best to use products designed for each type of skin in the corresponding areas.
• Sensitive skin usually feels irritated or itchy, dry (before or after using products on your face), has small pores and is prone to flushing. A little dead skin might show, too. As the most problematic skin type, it usually requires special products made just for sensitive skin; they are usually alcohol and fragrance-free.

In order to maintain healthy, young and fresh-looking skin, it is important to really look after it. Make sure to drink lots of water, at least eight glasses a day and get enough sleep (at least seven hours, although eight is best...are you picking up a theme here too? O_o), eat healthily (juice and mix your greens to make them tastier - experimentation is fun; recipes coming soon) and after taking a bath or shower, pat your skin dry with a soft towel, but make sure you leave your face a little damp before starting your skin routine. This will help lock the moisture in. Also, try not to wear make-up to bed; it ages your face by drying it out.



How cute are these Hello Kitty soaps!? Unfortunately I will probably never try them...you'll find out why in my post about cleanser!

Anyway, there you have it! A quick and easy way to identify your skin type as well as a few tips! I hope some of you found this useful. Until next time!

Love, Miss Emma-Lily xx

#3 ~ Animal Testing on Cosmetics Revealed

As mentioned in my previous post, when I first found out that some cosmetics and/or their ingredients were tested on animals, I was so upset. It really made me think of my rabbit I had when I was little (his name was Spandol...children have amazing imaginations) and my two guinea pigs (they were called Bubble and Squeak, named after one of my grandmother's regular dishes to use leftovers - one looked cute like a bubble, the other was a constant squeaker). Why do humans do such cruel things just for our beauty? This led me to delve in and try clearing it up.



After hours of research, I came to the following conclusions:

Testing cosmetics and their ingredients has already been banned inside the E.U. and now so is bringing them into the E.U. after testing outside of the E.U. (bit of a complicated sentence O_o). However, a company may use an ingredient that has been tested on animals in the past from results of research, but are not allowed to test new ingredients themselves or get another company to do it regardless of whether either of them are in the E.U. or not.

Phew...I hope that wasn't too complicated for you...anyway, let's move on.



When shopping to re-stock your supplies, it is actually quite complicated to find products/companies that don't support testing on animals. Whilst PETA have a good, frequently updated guide to most cosmetics companies and whether or not they test (or get another company to do it for them), I tend to find the more expensive brands left that are pricey because they are organic or all natural, plus I have to actually remember a huge list. Don't get me wrong, that is totally not a bad thing, but for someone like me on a lower budget (and a bad memory), I cannot really afford them. So what is a girl like me supposed to do?

Well, of course, I trusted those that write 'this product is not tested on animals' or 'this product is cruelty-free'. Now, if you are naive like me, too, you wouldn't think for a second to research the parent company behind the brand name. After I did that to a few of my favourite brands, I discovered the disappointing truth. They are actually sneaky with how they word this. They simply tell you the product itself has not been tested on animals but do not mention the word 'ingredients'. Unless they sell their cosmetics in places like China, where the cosmetics industry is worth £16 billion and animal testing is mandatory (although they are thinking of 'easing' their laws in June), when companies make that claim on their product, most of the time it is true, however, for those selling in China, they would have been tested in or outside of China, but not in the E.U., meaning it has effectively been tested on animals. No idea how they get away with this. Large sums of money and secret deals pop into my head, though...



See? I told you rats are cute, too!

Even though a brand may say their product has not been tested on animals, they most likely have used ingredients that were tested in the past, just not tested by them. They would have done their research to find reports about ingredients that have already been tested so they can happily sell their cosmetics legally, still supporting animal testing and wording it so that consumers like us think their product is entirely cruelty-free. I feel like such a fool for believing them, but somehow the marketing worked on me.

So, my personal conclusion is that I have no choice but to believe the brands that tell me their products have not been tested on animals and avoid any that don't, because in reality most parent companies have used ingredients that were tested in the past. All I can do is trust that they do not test themselves and use research to know what is safe and pledge to never ever test themselves, not even if they find a new ingredient that is some kind of miracle. After all of this research, I firmly believe that cosmetics testing on animals is going to stop soon.

I hope this has cleared things up a little for anyone who was feeling confused about it (like me) and aided towards your own personal decision on what cosmetics you will and won't buy from now on.

Love, Miss Emma-Lily xx

#2 ~ Let's Make Over the World!

Years ago, when I first found out that cosmetics were tested on animals, I literally could not believe it. Animals...are tested on for the sake of our beauty? That always has been and always will be unethical; coincidentally, the R.S.P.C.A. have launched a campaign to stop animal testing worldwide, so this is the perfect way to start my blog.



Thousands (over 27,000) of cute little rabbits, mice, guinea pigs and rats (yes, I think rats are cute too) are used all of the time to test new ingredients for cosmetics and the finished products, causing them much distress and even pain; once done with, they are simply disposed of. I used to own a rabbit and two guinea pigs...the thought of something like this happening to them is just unbearable. All of these animals should be treated like living things, not just a tools for experimentation.

As it has already been banned in the E.U. (as well as bringing in ingredients and the finished products if they were tested on animals) and in America they are running a petition to ask Representatives to become Co-Sponsors of the Humane Cosmetics Act as well as asking people to e-mail legislators, I think it is time for the rest of the world to do the same.



In China it is actually required that cosmetics are tested on animals before being sold (although they are apparently thinking of 'easing' their laws in June) and quite a few of the larger cosmetics companies allow their products to be tested just to sell them there (the Chinese cosmetics industry is worth £16 billion). I wonder how the people in charge of these companies would feel if they were the test subjects and not defenseless animals...as a passionate animal lover, I feel very strongly about what the R.S.P.C.A. are doing and want to really encourage everyone to take part.

The best part is, it is so easy and quick to do! You can send an e-mail to the biggest cosmetics companies (the R.S.P.C.A. have even written one for you, or you can write your own) from the campaign page and then dedicate your makeover to the make over the world campaign on twitter! I really, really encourage you to do this as it can even be your daily makeover (as long as you send that e-mail, too - otherwise it makes less of an impact). All you have to do is take a photo and upload it to twitter, using the hashtag #makeovertheworld so that the world can see it! You can also be super creative, like maybe giving yourself cat-like eyeliner, or go all-out by adding a nose and whiskers!



Ta-da! This is the result of my makeover (and the first time I have ever done cat make-up on myself). It was really fun! I plaited my hair the night before after having a shower and let it dry naturally overnight because unfortunately, I wasn't born with lovely waves like this. I have also posted this on twitter to be a part of the make over the world campaign. Now it's your turn! If you don't...



So go on and dedicate your makeover to help make over the world! Let's stop animal testing together!

Love, Miss Emma-Lily xx

#1 ~ Starting with the Basics!

Hello! Konnichiwa~ ;D

My name is Emma. As my middle name is Lily, I decided to call my blog 'Miss Emma-Lily'. It has a cute sound, reminding me of a cross between Emily and Tigerlily. I am currently twenty-three and reside in the United Kingdom, where we are very how-do-you-do and wear top hats - haha, who am I kidding!? Sadly, those days are long gone.

Generally, I do not like 'modern' fashion, especially heavy-patterned clothes; they remind me of my mother, or grandmother - and that is not a good look. Vintage, on the other hand is a whole different look and can be soft, romantic and very feminine. Instead of following trends, I create my own personal style using cute, colourful, anime/Asian-style clothing. This goes for make-up, too. I often wear bright colours on my nails and eyes.



To start off with, my first two blog posts will be about stopping animal cruelty in the form of cosmetics testing. I feel this is a very important subject as a passionate animal lover and I would like to share my of hours of research; it really is quite shocking. Coincidentally, the R.S.P.C.A. have launched a campaign on this topic, which you can find more information about in my next post.

Now, if you are somewhat like me and are working your fluffy socks off just to pay the rent, bills and at least attempt to eat healthily, exercise...somewhat regularly, then you will most likely know what it feels like to walk down the high street and look longingly into a shop window at a new pair of jeans or cute heels and have to fight against your instincts to carry on walking instead of going inside to try them on, or finding something super pretty online and forcing yourself to bookmark it until that day when you become rich and win the lottery so you are not tempted to treat yourself for another second.



This is where my blog comes in useful! After writing about animal cruelty in the cosmetics industry, I plan on writing about the basics of skincare and make-up; as I need to re-stock my supplies, it gives me the perfect opportunity to search for cheap alternatives to the high street of products most of us will use on a daily basis and review them, so you can still look gorgeous whilst keeping to your budget, too.

It will not only be make-up and tools I am going to post about - it could even be clothing, shoes or even my own recipes and tutorials! You might have guessed this already, but I am also a big fan of Japanese culture and as such, I will post my interesting and cute finds, too!

So, a huge thank you for reading and I hope you are looking forwards to my future blog posts!

Love, Miss Emma-Lily xx